Making Honkai Impact lll In A World Where Kallen Exists [Continuation]

On this side, Kalpas and Mobius faced off against each other, neither willing to back down.

Mobius seemed to show a hint of anticipation regarding Kalpas's downfall, she would quite enjoy witnessing his demise.

And Kalpas felt the same way.

The saying "love to hate" didn't necessarily apply here; this dynamic perfectly illustrated that notion.

Su let out a soft sigh without much fluctuation in his tone. Though hailed as a sage, he could not predict the future.

A certain fragment misled him further into the wrong direction.

The attack came down, but it didn't land on either of them.

Kiana was left utterly stunned by the twist, never expecting Kalpas to pull such a reversal in the end.

"Is this what they call... being rough but meticulous?"

"Truly unexpected. If Kalpas really devised a plan feigning anger like this... it's impossible to distinguish it from how he usually acts," the Herrscher of Sentience remarked.

Who would've thought that his long-standing persona could also have its advantages? Although in Kalpas's case, it probably wasn't mere pretense. If he could act this way until the end, it was more likely his genuine nature.

He had utilized others' subconscious perceptions of him to orchestrate this entire event.

----------------

Much later...

Everything began with a downfall.

And it ended with one as well.

In the boundless darkness, a man awakened.

Lowering his head, he examined his body and tried to make sense of the situation. Within the darkness, he had indeed encountered... something.

But why... why had he appeared in this completely unfamiliar place?

What's more, right before him, was something even harder to understand.

—Another version of himself appeared.

Another... Kalpas.

Undoubtedly, the other was the supposed enemy, the mastermind behind everything. Yet for some reason, he chose not to reveal his true face, instead using the same appearance as Kalpas's.

From the other's manner of speaking, Kalpas felt an intense disgust, the opponent claimed to be the real him and to know him better than he knew himself. However, deep down, Kalpas sensed otherwise. There was something oddly familiar about this impostor, but the way he spoke with Kalpas's face was rigid and uncanny.

Was it... Aponia?

He realized the source of the familiar tone but found it too unbelievable to accept.

The impostor carelessly walked past him, as if inviting him to reflect on himself—the man named Kalpas.

Within this void-like space, fragmented images surfaced: shattered swords constructed from the Herrscher of Dominance's core, glimpses of Kalpas's assistant—Imir—and memories of his "homeland." Scenes of battlefields, places of return, suffering, and war.

He was always the one walking forward alone. The only one. And in the end, it was always just him.

No one could stay with him until the very end.

It was always him alone.

The impostor and Kalpas also discussed recent events—Sakura.

The mastermind seemed particularly amused, raising countless questions.

"If my memory hasn't been distorted by madness, wasn't it because of a mission that Sakura destroyed your second home?"

The mysterious figure chuckled, his expression unreadable behind the mask that mirrored Kalpas's.

"Enough. You have no right to judge Sakura."

Kalpas roared, his rage reminiscent of what he'd felt after Imir's death.

"Sakura...? Hahaha, I truly don't understand—you have every reason to hate her to the core, but you don't."

"Destroying the Elysian Realm's space... you were even willing to go to such lengths for her. Why?"

The stranger's piercing gaze locked onto Kalpas's as though trying to peer through his mask into his soul.

But all he saw was anger, an endless, unyielding fury.

"When I want to do something, I don't need a reason."

Kalpas coldly retorted, his tone resolute.

"If you don't want to answer, so be it… But your anger is truly peculiar. From your memories, you've never hated any specific person."

"Oh... I finally get it. No wonder you don't seem to harbor any resentment toward Sakura."

The mysterious man's tone softened as if he'd reached an epiphany. A faint smirk appeared as he stared at the ever-angry Kalpas.

Strangely... he suddenly felt a hint of pity for his adversary.

"Whether it was the day of the purge at the orphanage or every moment of helplessness that followed, the only person you've ever hated is yourself."

"That's why your fury will never be extinguished, unless you die. Isn't that right?"

He peeled back the layers of Kalpas's psyche with surgical precision, targeting every vulnerable spot with unerring accuracy.

"Enough! Have you said enough?"

Kalpas's rage surged ever higher, but in this void, no battle could be fought, and nothing could silence the stranger's incessant prattle.

Annoying.

He found the stranger before him utterly infuriating.

"Oh? Actually... I've discovered something else amusing. Back at the orphanage, though your face didn't show it, when those children praised you, you couldn't help but smile?"

"A beast who has completely turned into a monster... secretly longs to be an ordinary person?"

The mysterious figure continued its questioning. It indeed disliked this man, but after reading his memories, it now genuinely wanted to understand him.

Only because he fully demonstrated the complexity of human nature, deception and duality.

Anyway, there's still plenty of time now.

"Shut up!!" he roared, infuriated by its words again.

"Oh, I see... You truly don't want to be an ordinary person, yet you've hated yourself all along. Ah—what a masterful disguise, Kalpas."

"The beast that terrified everyone, that annihilated the most enemies... was never enjoying the slaughter. The reason you craved power was your helplessness in the face of change."

"An ordinary life? ... No, what you desire isn't that at all, but rather a—"

"I said shut up!!"

Enraged like never before, Kalpas nearly threw a blazing punch, only to be stopped by an invisible barrier. The flames scorched the hem of its clothing.

It seemed to pause its speech for this reason but only responded with a low chuckle.

"Fine, then… let's get to the end. Look—there's that familiar pillar. At the very start, weren't you tied to it?"

Ahead, a fiery pillar suddenly appeared, quite similar to the ones Kalpas used to hurl in the past.

-----------------

"Kalpas… Why are there two of you? Is this going to be a heart-to-heart?"

Mobius asked, surprised. A smile gradually appeared on her face as she noticed Kalpas's embarrassment.

Perhaps… if such a person truly existed, everyone else on Kalpas's most-hated list might need to move down a spot.

The words from the other side were undoubtedly cutting.

Even Mobius didn't understand parts of it.

Why was Kalpas so angry? Where did this fury come from? It seemed she had never delved deeply into such a question.

"Utter nonsense! If not for... Hmph! the content up there isn't true!"

Kalpas responded coldly.

"Truth or lies, we can judge for ourselves. By the way, I'm curious, how exactly did Luo Mo convince Kalpas to do voice acting? That's what I want to know," Mobius remarked with a hint of obsession as she brushed her fingers over her lips.

"Oh, I simply mentioned the second Idol Competition. For this scene, the character with the least screen time had to take the role. Clearly, Kalpas wasn't interested in participating in that... the competition that left a lasting impression on Raven and Theresa."

"Oh? The second Idol Competition?"

(TL: oh no... the three- no, the 4 Flame-Chasers idol)

Elysia perked up, catching onto the details with keen interest. Thoughts of Kalpas's possible talents crossed her mind.

Could it be… a meteor shower?

"What… are you talking about? It was about Sakura; that's why I— Forget it. Back then, you wanted Sakura and Elysia to persuade me, and I also wanted to see whether the so-called real event was authentic."

He glared at Luo Mo. The latter always managed to ramble about inexplicable things.

He had never agreed to join that Idol Competition!

"Is it true, then, Kalpas?"

Vill-V lowered her stance, raising an eyebrow at him.

"…"

Kalpas remained silent, and an invisible pressure spread around him.

"If what Luo Mo said is true, then who has the least screen time? Don't tell me… it's me? Uh, stealing… supplies, does that count as a performance?"

Pardofelis swayed her tail, hesitant to speak further.

"It's Mobius, obviously," Elysia chuckled and explained lightly, nodding her head.

Compared to her early demise, Mobius had remained out of sight all along.

"Oh, the little white mouse?"

Mobius's dangerous eyes locked onto Luo Mo as she flashed a 'kind' smile.

"It was just an unfinished idea... But rather than this, shouldn't we focus on what the mysterious figure said now?"

Luo Mo shrugged, wondering why they diverted the topic toward him. Why care about Kalpas's voice acting? Didn't you all voice act too?

If this scene weren't so crucial, he wouldn't have run around trying to piece it together.

"Nothing to discuss. What it said... is accurate. An outsider understanding Kalpas's thoughts better than himself in such a short time—tsk."

Mobius spoke more than usual today, perhaps responding to Griseo's remark about her good relationship with Kalpas. Or maybe she was just in a good mood.

Narrowing her eyes slightly, she leaned back and half-lay on the cold leather sofa. "What does he want, then?"

She feigned confusion.

"Your incessant chatter," Kalpas replied coldly.

"Uh… At least we can see that Kalpas values his companions. Isn't it better for everyone to get along?"

Elysia smiled, trying to mediate. This Flame-Chaser organization couldn't function for even a day without her!

First, internal conflicts and fierce battles with Kalpas, followed by chaotic external skirmishes—they were practically begging to be picked off one by one.

"Indeed... This scene greatly changed my view of Kalpas. Perhaps he truly has a gentle side and cares for his companions…"

Bronya analyzed the information rationally but was interrupted by a sudden burst of sparks.

Kalpas shot her a cold glance, then swept his gaze over Elysia, who had been restraining him, and said icily,

"You all… disgust me."

"Hehe—"

Aponia didn't mind his attitude, finding some joy in reshaping others' impressions of Kalpas. "He is indeed a disobedient good child."

"...Get lost. Especially you, Aponia!"

--------------

What do people think of Kalpas?

Savage, irritable, violent, someone who solves problems with brute force...?

That's the usual perception of him, a conclusion easily drawn upon meeting this Flame-Chaser. But now, in this peculiar space, his inner world was exposed for all to see.

And it was somewhat unexpected.

"Indeed, it's not hard to understand why that ignorant village would regard someone who descended from the heavens, unscathed, and capable of defeating Honkai beasts without external aid as a god."

"What's harder to understand is what you did afterward. Kalpas, oh Kalpas, why would they believe that ropes incapable of restraining Honkai beasts could bind someone far stronger than them?"

"Clearly, you could've broken free with just a flick of your hand… but instead, you let them strip away your blood to fend off the Honkai?"

"Haha—what you told Kosma about enduring pain isn't because of any special physique or habit. The real reason lies in this experience, doesn't it?"

"Imagine, if Sakura hadn't appeared, perhaps… you would've been the god they spoke of, bleeding to death. Maybe you'd even become part of their mythology! Haha!"

The mysterious figure, mimicking Kalpas's appearance, continued its rambling, reading his memories and pointing out the contradictions.

"You sure talk a lot," Kalpas remarked coldly, arms crossed.

"Then why?" it pressed on, intrigued. "Why did you ultimately choose to do nothing?"

"You can ask," Kalpas said flatly. "But once you've asked, you'll die."

"…Oh, I understand now."

Feigning sudden realization, it adopted a tone that made the chill in Kalpas's eyes deepen.

"No wonder you were willing to fight to the death with a MANTIS during the asylum incident... no wonder, despite not agreeing with Flame-Chasers' actions, you never chose to leave."

Relieved, it unraveled what had once been a perplexing question.

"Kalpas... a man second only to the two leaders in the entire world..."

"What he truly desires..."

"Enough!!" Kalpas roared, his interruption ineffective.

"...is nothing more than a place to return to..."

"A home."

"Did I get it right?"

It sneered as it watched the man cornered and caged before it.

There was a certain satisfaction in this realization, as malice crept into its expression.

This Kalpas, the harbinger of destruction, desired something so simple?

Haha—

It was utterly unexpected!

"Thank you for opening your heart to me. And thank you... for willingly becoming the next sacrifice."

"Farewell, the sixth Flame-Chaser."

Having said its piece, it prepared to gracefully exit the stage like an ancient performer behind the curtain.

"Haha—"

From the darkness, low laughter began to creep.

"Hahahahaha! Did you really think you were the only one stalling for time?"

A jarring laugh echoed as Kalpas, who should have been a defeated man, burst into laughter.

Then, the first flame ignited,

The suspended punch exploded out of nowhere.

Flames engulfed the surrounding darkness, consuming the mask concealed within.

Amid the crumbling fragments, a face was revealed behind the imposter's mask.

"…It's you?"

Kalpas laughed as if he had expected this. "So, it's you after all."

"…Relying on your comrades, that's something this Kalpas would do?" the mysterious figure muttered after a brief silence, letting out a bitter laugh.

It recognized Kalpas's desperate struggle, but it deemed it futile.

What did it matter if he understood? Kalpas was destined to fall here.

"What happened just now doesn't count as the end. What you're about to witness, the things Kalpas can do, are just beginning."

The flames burned.

Burned everything, devoured everything, destroyed everything.

Just like this man's beginning, present, and… inevitable end.

"You wanted to see my true heart? Come—"

"Burn everything down, until nothing remains!!"

Flames consumed the space, devoid of warmth, accompanied only by a half-destroyed Kalpas.

It was evident to everyone, Kalpas would not survive.

It was also evident that he had given his all.

Whether to prove Sakura's innocence or to leave one final aid for his companions.

---

[Brother Kalpas—my hero!]

[Saint Kalpas, he truly… I'm crying my eyes out.]

[Even at his end, we never truly saw Brother Kalpas's full face …]

[I'm switching from being a hater to a fan! I'll forever stand with Kalpas!]

----------------

The players erupted with emotion, their understanding of Kalpas forever changed. The room fell into an awed silence, no longer buzzing with noise.

In the golden courtyard, the Flame-Chasers exchanged uncertain glances.

This part of the voiceover was unique to Kalpas. Even as his companions for over 50,000 years, they had never truly understood him.

And now, they realized, they had never truly experienced the depth of the man they called their comrade.

Yet, all of this was laid bare before them by an intruder.

It was both shocking and strange.

But it also explained the various inexplicable events surrounding Kalpas.

"Aliens?? Aliens descending from the sky?"

Kiana's focus was a bit off-topic, but let's set that aside for now.

"Lacking... a home? Kalpas, does that mean the first time you didn't leave with Elysia and the others, it was because you saw the Elysian Realm as another home?..."

Aponia lowered her gaze and asked softly.

But she was destined not to receive an answer.

When the Elysian Realm was being relocated, she had already noticed his sour mood. For his first departure, he unexpectedly stayed behind, his reasoning being to remain with the person he claimed to hate the most.

Later, he left with them as a matter of course. When he first saw the Golden Courtyard, a mysterious look had briefly flickered in his eyes that she couldn't decipher at the time.

Perhaps, that was yet another place he sought, a home he could return to.

(TL: Aww~ my tears. I don't mind hugging big bro, even if he burns me)

"..."

This time, Mobius didn't mock him. She merely snorted lightly and glanced at Kalpas, withholding her judgment.

No wonder. When they argued fiercely, it was always her who proposed moving out. She used to wonder why he never left.

If he moved out first, wouldn't that mean she lost and had to back down?

And now, it turned out there was another reason behind it.

Forget it... That fierce glare of his made it clear this wasn't the time for fighting.

Kalpas was indeed in a bad mood, but he remained unusually quiet. A volcano not erupting doesn't mean it's safe, it could just be gathering strength for its next explosion.

Clap, clap—

"Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous. Even someone like me, well-versed in psychology, has to applaud. Layer by layer, peeling away to delve deep into Kalpas's heart."

Vill-V clapped her hands enthusiastically, her face beaming with a lingering smile.

(TL/C: you're next, miss)

"Knowing his memories, Kalpas's thoughts have nowhere to hide now."

"Kalpas..."

Elysia's gaze was complicated. She hadn't expected this to be the reason either.

A... home? Somehow, it evoked a twinge of sympathy.

Indeed, whether it was the village, the asylum, or the Flame-Chasers, even if he didn't necessarily like those places, he had protected them in his own way.

He'd declared countless times that he didn't like the Flame-Chasers, yet after joining them, he never escaped.

As for whether this was true or not...

Those who had been with Qianjie for so long had already judged its authenticity.

"..."

He felt the stares around him grow more piercing.

Surely he wasn't as pitiful as that kitten... Tch, why was her gaze like that too?

"B-brother Kalpas! I'll give you all the stuff I've collected from the asylum and the Flame-Chasers!"

Pardofelis wiped her eyes, speaking with excitement.